The Police Reform Act 2002 enables blood to be lawfully taken from any driver who has been involved in a road traffic accident, who lacks the capacity to consent as a result of a medical problem or injury, and who may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Consent at the time is not required but must be obtained at a later date. Experience of forensic physicians suggest obtaining blood directly from a vein, as the Act requires, can sometimes be technically difficult in an intensive care setting. The case described discusses one such scenario and puts forward the reasons as to why blood from a line should be accepted as evidence.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcfm.2005.12.003 | DOI Listing |
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